Friday, 29 January 2016

Fresh out of college, Lexi Wideman, lands a level entry job at a
lucrative recruiting firm. Only six months into her tenure, she’s
offered a major promotion—Executive assistant to Roger Kent, the
company’s coveted corporate headhunter. Older, irresistible, ruggedly
handsome, Roger Kent, turns her into a liquid pool of need with just one
smoldering glance but the opportunity is just too good to pass up, this
early in her career. Lexi must find a way to remain professional while
panting after her boss.

Roger Kent is thrown off guard when the company’s execs all of a
sudden decide he needs an assistant. Perhaps he does but Lexi Wideman is
not the girl for him. She’s smart, young and gorgeous. It’s hard enough
trying to keep his eyes off her. Working in such close proximity, day
after day, it would only be a matter of time before his hands followed.

So much for the No Frat Policy.

Excerpt:

The minute Ms. Wideman shut the door, I tossed my pen onto the conference room table. “I don’t know why you guys are browbeating me into this. What the hell do I need an assistant for?”

“Roger, we’ve talked about this. You are too busy now not to have a personal assistant. You’re accruing more clients by the day. As far as I’m concerned, the perfect candidate just walked out the door. We don’t need to continue with the process.” Ray Diamont screened the other execs, who all nodded in agreement.

Well, fuck!

“We’ve all watched it happen, Roger. Over the last six months, since Ms. Wideman joined the firm, the two of you have stepped up the game. You’re magic together. It just makes sense.”

“But don’t you see, you’re about to piss off half the employees who have been here for years. They’re going to revolt if you give Ms. Wideman this job. She hasn’t even been with us a year. She’s only just finished her six-month probationary period.”

“But she’s earned it, Roger,” my friend as well as associate Dave Portman said. “You have to admit it yourself.” Reluctantly, I nodded. “Everything else aside, she is the best person we have to fill the position as your PA. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to put the best person in that spot. It’s what we do on a daily basis. Why should it be any different for our own employees? No one else out there”— he pointed to the outer office — “fits as well as she does. You two have chemistry. I’ve watched you. We all have. It’s like she reads your mind. She has things done or in place and in your hands before you even ask. This is a no-brainer, Roger. I honestly don’t understand why you’re fighting us on this.”

“Well said, David. Shall we take a vote?” Ray Diamont asked.

All hands shot up but mine.

I exchanged a look with Dave and thought back to the first day Lexi Wideman had stepped into the office.

I’d been in the break room, watching the new recruits. I’d already introduced myself and we’d exchanged pleasantries.

“Something wrong, Roger? Not happy with your latest batch of acquisitions?” Dave had slapped me on the shoulder as he passed by on the way to the coffeepot.

“Not at all, it’s a promising crop,” I lied smoothly.

“Hey, isn’t this the group with your coveted Lexi in it? Which one is she?”

“The statuesque blonde on the right in blue.”

Dave observed the young woman, then turned his shrewd gaze back to me. “Huh, she’s not at all what I expected.”

Me either. And that was the problem.

The moment she’d walked into the room, she’d snagged my attention, even before I knew who she was. It was one of those instantaneous reactions that was purely physical.

It probably didn’t help that I knew so much about her. She’d impressed me from a professional standpoint for years. But now, matching the qualifications to the face, I found myself a little shell-shocked. Perhaps bringing her here to work for us wasn’t the best idea. Idiot me, I’d practically groomed her for this firm, handing her off to another employer before I got a chance to see if my impeccable instincts had done it once again. It just didn’t sit well.

Always looking for potential recruits, it was my hobby to scour the colleges and universities for quality stock. At the time, she was a sophomore, at the top of her class. I bookmarked her and kept tabs on her advancement. She came along exactly as I’d hoped, and the minute she graduated with honors, I made sure Locklin, Diamont, and Kent was the first place she applied fresh out of college. Even then, I knew she would be an asset to the firm.

“Have you decided what you’re going to do with her, Roger?”

“I’m going to put her through the admin pool, as I would any new acquisition.”

“Really? I’m surprised by that. I thought you had big plans for her.”

“We’ll see. She needs to prove herself. Just like everybody else.”

It didn’t take long though to realize Lexi was my go-to staffer. She was a go-getter, she went above and beyond in any task. For weeks, she was the only one I approached. Clearly intelligent, she learned quickly, and it took only a matter of days for her to assimilate to my specifications. We worked side by side, like a well-oiled machine, right up until the day I wanted to fire her on the spot.

My intuition of her on paper was purely cerebral. My first impression of her by appearance was entirely corporeal. It was physically working with her that made me realize I could have serious feelings for her, if I allowed myself to. If things stayed as they were and she remained in the admin pool, even with the strict no-fraternizing policy, I could possibly ask her out. If I became her boss, it was categorically out of the question. What made it all more difficult is that I was sure Miss Wideman was on the same page. We’d been dancing around each other for weeks trying to keep things professional.

“Hold up just a minute.” I called a halt to the proceedings before anything was set in stone. “Give me a minute.” I excused myself and hurried down the corridor.

“Ms. Wideman? Lexi?” She turned as I caught up to her.

“Are you sure you want this position?” I had to know once and for all.

She stared straight into my eyes and said, “Yes sir, I do.” There was no hesitation. She was committed. I guess it was all I needed. I appreciated her conviction and her drive. I admired it. And I would strive to be professional as well.

“Then the job is yours, Ms. Wideman. Congratulations.” I held out my hand.

Her lovely face lit. “Thank you, sir.” The minute she placed her small hand in mine and we were palm to palm, I knew I was fucked.

I left her there and barged back into the boardroom and said, “Motion carried.”

“Excellent,” Ray said. “Congratulations, Roger”

I sat in the high-backed black leather chair as the room cleared, except for Dave. He squeezed my shoulder. “It’s not a bad thing, Rodge. What’s up? I’ve never seen you like this. Everyone’s just trying to make life easier around here for you.”

“I’ve never asked for help. I can do my job.”

“Of course you can. There’s no question. You’re the best headhunter in the firm, hell, maybe in the entire country, but you can be even better with some assistance. Especially when you’re out on the road. Now tell me what’s really going on. I noticed you didn’t engage with Ms. Wideman at all. Is there a problem? If so, you should have spoken up before the vote.”

“No, there’s no problem. She’s just as qualified as the rest,” I said unemotionally, but I was anything but dispassionate when it came to Lexi Wideman.

“Well, that’s good then. Congratulations, Roger,” Dave said before exiting.

“Yay me,” I said to the empty room.

Working with Lexi so closely on a daily basis was going to be pure torture, and I didn’t need faultless intuition to know it.

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Due for release on 14th February - but available for pre-order now, SPLICED is a series of four sexy shifter stories that will transport you to a whole new world.

When scientists mess with the most primitive elements of a man’s core, the results are bound to be explosive.

Living a loveless existence is hard for any shifter, but having DNA spliced with creatures who stand out from the crowd is damn near impossible. Which is why four experimented-on souls decide to break free from the chains that hold them, climb the fences that circle them, and go in search of adventure, passion and most of all, their mates.

But nothing worth having is ever easy, and for Sharkorilla, Pugorilla, Kangorilla and Elephorilla, this is definitely the case. They’ve come to the end of one very long, hard and frustrating road, but now, with the help of men who have big hearts, they must shed their fears, accept their bodies, and be true to the desires that burn within them. The only problem is, will they get away with it?

Please note, Spliced can be enjoyed as individual stories, but reading in order enhances the pleasure as you get to see the progression of the shifter's sexy adventures.

Carrick is an Alpha werewolf preparing for the annual Pack
Gathering. Pack law dictates he must have a mate by his thirty-sixth year or
forfeit his rule. But what if he’s already found her and lost her in a swirl of
cinnamon-scented dreams? Can this Alpha brave a sea of single wolfy females to
find the one woman who enchanted his heart?

She’s a kitty girl, in a wolfy world…

Sage is the curvy owner of the Hot Whips Café. Bound by pack
law, even as an adopted cat, she must attend the Gathering for the Alpha to
select a new mate. Heading to a wolf ball isn’t high on her list of fun
activities, but damned if she can’t get the image of a certain amber-eyed wolf
out of her head.

Carrick stood with his back to his second in command, his
wolf pacing beneath his skin. He wanted to break the double doors open and
bound into the woods rather than face the torment waiting for him in the
grounds outside. Women. Hundreds of single wolfy females. All vying for the
privilege of putting his cock and balls into their handbags like some
godforsaken trophy.

Fuck.

Ever year he’d dodged the bullet, but this year one of the
hungry piranha circling his house would become his mate.

Double fuck. He’d been through this before. He already had
one. He just needed to find her, but the elders wouldn’t listen.

“You have to make a choice, Alpha.” Reid crossed the room
and stood in front of him, blocking his view.

Carrick growled and spun away. “I’ll find her.”

Reid’s lips flattened, his dark eyes flashing in his anger.
“You know the rules. Thirty-six is the last year an Alpha can rule without a
mate by his side. The pack needs an Alpha female to be whole.”

“The pack is stronger than it’s been, or are you forgetting
how I got here?”

Reid swallowed and backed up a step. “No. Justin was a
horrible Alpha. You were right to destroy him. He was wrong for the Westmore
Pack. Evil.”

And the bastard had been. He’d abused his power as Alpha to
enslave his pack rather than uplift it. The amount of victims he’d unearthed in
the days that followed would disturb him for the rest of his days. He could
still see the faces of the women Justin had taken against their will and the
shivering form of his sister and the strange girl who stood up to a monster.

Hers was the face that haunted his dreams. Her need reached
out to him and made him into who he needed to be to overcome a near impossible
situation. He had been up against a being far superior in strength but what he
lacked in brawn, he’d more than made up for in sheer bullheadedness. And the
electricity he felt when he touched her. His wolf recognized his mate and so
did he. Now all that remained was to find her. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been
looking. No one knew her name and, with her face partially shifted, her image
was only a fleeting ghost in his mind.

“You’re damned right.” Carrick leaned back against his desk
and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His father would be proud of the work he’d
done. He’d turned the Westmore Estate from a near financial ruin to a lucrative
operation centered on the newly formed security company owned by him and his
second, Reid. Where people had once feared shifters for their propensity for
violence because of Justin and his henchmen, he’d turned the tide and people
paid for their protection. Handsomely. So much so that when the media had heard
about the weekend’s festivities, he’d been dubbed the Ultimate Bachelor.

It made him fucking nauseous.

The one person he needed to find and he couldn’t and it made
him crazy. Now, in a matter of a few days, he would either have to relinquish
his role as Alpha or marry a gold digging piece of arm candy. The closest
person he’d found was a barista at the coffee place he frequented but she
didn’t look anything like the girl in his dreams. And now whenever she saw him
coming, she hightailed it for the hills.

But she had popped a whisker.

Just like his goddess.

Jesus. He was losing his shit. Completely.

About the author:

Erzabet Bishop is an award winning author who loves to write
naughty stories. She is the author of Lipstick, Crave, The Science of Lust,
Wicked for You, Arcane Imaginarium: Spirit Board, Holidays in Hell, Mallory’s
Mark (upcoming 2016),The Devil’s Due (upcoming 2016), Charity Benshaw’s
Enchanted Paddle Emporium (upcoming 2016), Sigil Fire, Glitter Lust (upcoming
2016), Written on Skin, Club Beam, Pomegranate, A Red Dress for Christmas, The
Black Magic Café, Fantasies in Red, Sweet Seductions: The Erzabet Bishop Collection,
Holiday Cruise, Fetish Fair, Temptation Resorts: Jess, Temptation Resorts:
Marnie, Taming the Beast, The Erotic Pagans Series: Beltane Fires, Samhain
Shadows and Yuletide Temptation along with being a contributor to many
anthologies. Erzabet has been a finalist in the GCLS awards for 2014 and 2015,
winning the Goldie for her spot in two anthologies. She has been nominated for
the Golden Flogger Award for Crave. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry
children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores. She loves to bake,
make naughty crochet projects and watch monster movies. When she isn’t writing,
she loves to review music and books.

Calvin Edward’s life has been tipped upside down, never had he imagined encounter his first one true love. Only she held a massive secret from him for nine years— his son. His flesh and blood. How could have Sophie denied ever telling him about his child, now adopted to another family? Struggling with his emotions for Sophie, he has to deal with how to handle his son. Could he find it in his heart to forgive Sophie or is all lost?

Sophie Richards couldn’t believe the turn of events— how could the man who saved her turn out to be her first partner? Now the truth is out, her secrets discovered and finally she shared all her pain, never to have imagined the one man who showed her true care and affection is the father to her first child. She loves him, only Calvin resents her. How could she ever say sorry?

Excerpt

“I don’t hate you…I
would never hate you. I just wish you had come to me, I would’ve helped you. I
would certainly not have seen you out on the street or allowed you to have him
adopted.”

“Calvin, please don’t.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Her heart ached to his kindness that she really
didn’t deserve.

“I want to be here to
support you and Kacey.”

Sophie snapped her head
to glare at him. “She isn’t yours.” He stared back at her horrified. His lips pressed
firmly together, eyes peering harshly at her. She swallowed heavily and could
feel her heart being ripped out of her chest. “Sorry,” she managed to say
feeling larger knots in her tummy.

“I just want to help
you.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I want to.
Regardless!”

With that, Calvin stood.

She watched him walk away,
heading toward the main building indecisive if to chase after him to explain.
So fed-up of allowing her mouth to run away with her, but the truth was Kacey wasn’t
his to worry about.

Sophie allowed him to
go. She hitched her breath, aching in every limb.

Secret Hungers Presents:

Frisky Business (Frisky Romance #1) by Michele Bardsley
Synopsis: When Claire Williams is talked into one last favor for her ex-boss, magazine publisher Lucius Devereaux, she never imagines she’ll end up at a BDSM resort. Worse, she accidentally stumbles into a slave auction— and finds herself sold to a mysterious, masked Dom who promises to show her passion beyond her wildest desires. After the billionaire magazine owner buys his almost ex-assistant under the guise of a Dominant, he’s not sure how long he’ll be able to keep his identity secret. He’s wanted the beautiful, strong woman since the moment she started working for him. Now, he has a chance to show her true pleasure. Still, the only thing Lucius wants more than Claire’s body… is her heart.

Seducing My Billionaire Boss by Cynthia Sax
Synopsis: I have to land the position Robert Reyes, the CFO of Powers Corporation, recently posted. My friend’s health depends on it. I’ve heard the rumors— that Rob will require… extra duties from this new hire. He’s young, handsome, intelligent. Pleasing him won’t be a hardship. Not falling in love with him will be the big challenge. I’ve lusted after Rob for years, like him more than is prudent, dream of him every night. Touching his body, tasting the salt on his skin, will be both a self-inflicted torment and a fantasy come true. I’ll be a convenience for my hunky executive. This is a job, not a romance. As long as both of us remember this, our relationship should work.

The Dirty Martini (Cocktails Book Four) by Renee George Synopsis: When bartender Chris Lawson goes into shock after getting the worst news of his life, he wakes up in the arms of Marty Lincoln, an Army Ranger on leave from his post. Even in his grief, Chris feels instantly connected to the war ravaged vet. Only two problems: Marty is his boss’s younger brother. And even if that wasn’t an obstacle, the battle-hardened Ranger is straight. Or is he?

Curing Doctor Vincent (The Good Doctor, Book 1) by Renea Mason
Synopsis: Elaine Watkins, Public Relations Advisor, is surprised when she receives a summons from the very attractive and enigmatic Dr. Xavier Vincent. She worships the talented physician and company icon responsible for developing the cure that saved her sister’s life and isn’t immune to his charm. Even though puzzled by his request, she is excited and eager to get started on his latest project. But Dr. Vincent has other ideas. Instead of discussing cures, drugs and marketing strategies, he asks Elaine to join him in Paris to indulge his unique sexual appetites. Torn between gratitude for saving her sister, her attraction for the powerful man and compromising her pre-conceived notions of sexuality, she must decide if it’s easier to feed his desires or walk away. Until she devises a plan of her own.
“Make no mistake, Elaine, I am a king. Kings command and conquer. They are brutal and uncompromising. You don’t want a king. Face it, you came here expecting a saint.” —Dr. Xavier Vincent

Red Hot (A Sapphire Club Masquerade Novella) by Erzabet Bishop
Synopsis: One bet. One kiss is all it takes. Girl’s night out was supposed to be her downtime, but Justine Harwood finds herself staring temptation in the face when her author buddies give her a dare she can’t refuse. But Justine has secrets of her own. A polka dot dress and some seductive intentions are all Justine needs when she heads to The Sapphire Club to meet her girlfriend and hopefully a new boy toy. Because some men just need to learn their manners and Justine is just the woman to teach them. If you can’t stand the sizzle, step away from the fire… Brendan is a secret submissive, torn between his working day world as a local news reporter and his fantasy world at The Sapphire Club. He loves to watch, but when he steps too close to the object of his desire, will he be able to back away before he gets burned?
Stuck In Between (A Bound by Your Love Series novel) by Blakely Bennett
Synopsis: Jacqs is a twenty-eight year old woman caught up in an on again, off again relationship with Bond, who is her best friend and the one who causes her the most heartache. She succumbs, yet again, to his powerful charisma, but vows not make it into more than it is, a great night of sex. Bond, too sexy for his own good, wants Jacqs for himself as he “dates” his way through the female population of South Florida. He selfishly doesn’t see the conflict of interest. Red, Bond’s best friend, has watched Bond take Jacqs for granted for way too long and soon stakes his own claim on her. Will Red and Jacqs budding relationship pull apart their tight-knit group of friends and will Jacqs survive being Stuck in Between.

Sin at Sea (A Sinful Series Novel) by Emma Nichols
Synopsis: When Alysin decided to surprise her boyfriend at work with dinner, the surprise was on her. Since he was going at it with his secretary on the conference table, she packed a bag and called her BFF. Jolie and Alysin had been traveling the country, working as digital nomads for ten years ever since graduation. Taking this as a sign it was time for a new move, they decided to take a cruise, regroup, and make a plan. Then she meets Mr. Bedroom Eyes. Following her lead, they pretend to be married so she can rid herself of the guy who started hitting on her before the boat left the dock. Though it was supposed to be a momentary arrangement, he asks her to take it one step farther. Then another. Along the way, Alysin learns she won’t have to fake an orgasm if she’s with someone who knows what to do, not all men suck, but the best ones suck really well, and sometimes what starts out as something pretend, can fast become something completely real. Will the woman who lives life with no regrets, regret she made the stupid rule about not exchanging names and contact info?

Blind Taste Test by Anne LangeSynopsis: An erotic romance author who needs to inject more realism into her sex scenes finds herself in the middle of a blind taste test in which she’s the dish for a double helping of dessert.

Sucked Into Love (Bachelorette Party Series #1) by Rochelle Paige
Synopsis: It’s just Jocelyn’s luck that she meets her match at the fake bachelorette party her best friend throws for her… She knows better than to get pulled into any of Cee-Cee’s antics. It must have been sheer exhaustion that made her agree to help her best friend out with a work project – one that ended up with her playing bachelorette for the night! No man ever wants to be knocked off his feet by a woman he meets while she’s wearing a bachelorette “suck for a buck” shirt… Andrew knows that he wants Jocelyn the moment he lays eyes on her, but he’s never been one to poach on another man’s territory. He walks away but finds himself changed by the experience. Imagine his surprise when he sees her again, only to discover she isn’t married and has never even been engaged. Although this is book one in the Bachelorette Party series, there is no cliffhanger. Each book features a different couple. And if you’ve read the Blythe College series, you’ll see some familiar faces in Sucked Into Love.

The Only One For Her by Carlie Sexton
Synopsis: When is a heart too broken to fix? Just days before his wedding, handsome, successful entrepreneur, Trace Michaels, finds out his love wasn’t enough. With a broken heart, Trace lands in Maui, hoping to find solace in the beautiful island. What he finds is beauty, but in the form of an alluring, grieving woman. One he feels an instant and inescapable attraction to. Young widow, Lindy Bernard, had her heart broken when her husband died. In Maui to reluctantly close a chapter in her life, she suddenly finds herself in the arms of a drop-dead, gorgeous Adonis. After his relentless pursuit, Lindy and Trace begin to find healing… only to have that endangered by a secret threatening to tear them apart. All is not what it seems in Trace’s company, and it seems one woman has set out to ruin him. Can he juggle the odious plots against him while chasing the woman of his heart? Will she wait or are some hearts too broken to be fixed?
Cop Shot by Lexi Ostrow
Synopsis: Bridget O’Casey has wanted nothing more than to be a cop since she was a little girl and used to listen to her dad’s stories. He however, was completely against it and she found herself modeling. When he was gunned down on a chase it only furthered her desire to put her life in a different direction and finally enroll in the academy. She wanted revenge for her father’s death and honoring him was the only way to really do so. A night of partying before the first day could spell disaster when she finds out who the deadly handsome man was. Jeremy Trellins is a high profile detective. When things get slightly of out control and he’s put on training duty he wanted nothing to do with it. Until he found out the woman he slept with the night before was now one of the recruits. He’s torn between his duty and his desire and she’s not giving him any indication she doesn’t want him right back. When a series of police station shootings break out across southern California things get shaky as the academy must make the choice to train, or shut down. When a link to Bridget appears with the killings there is so much more on the line for Bridget then she realized. It’s not all black and white as Bridget takes the connection to the killer and her own thoughts of revenge resurface. She will have to find a way to balance training, a not so secret relationship that could both of them removed from the force and a killer that has his sites on her.

A Favor by Fiona Murphy
Synopsis: Zoe has been called cold and empty and undeserving of love when she can’t give it back. It isn’t how she wants be, but she knows no way of changing it, so she understands and hasn’t gone looking for a relationship. But then it finds her in the form of Sam King. Sam is a former Ranger, scarred on the outside from a mission that forced him out. The security contracting company needs Sam, but very soon Zoe realizes she needs him too. But it isn’t fair to get involved with him when he’s already been hurt, she has no right to add to his pain. But Sam is insistent that he’s not looking for a relationship— sex is all he wants and needs from her. Fighting Sam and her body is a lost cause, and she gives in. Soon she’s the one wanting more from Sam, but how can she find a way to not be cold and empty? Is it her turn to end up hurt at the end?

One Summer by Kassandra WyldeSynopsis: Twenty-two-year-old recent nursing graduate Amy is headed to Greece – much to her parents’ chagrin. They want to keep her home in Arizona where they can keep an eye on her. Amy wants adventure, though, and quickly falls for her gorgeous Greek professor, Dimitri. When Amy finds out that her Greek god is married, and meets his beautiful wife, Lydia, she is torn between her attraction and respect for their marriage. Then when Lydia makes Amy an offer she can’t refuse, she struggles with the possibility that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Despite her concerns, eventually she gives in to Lydia’s encouragement, and Amy and Dimitri’s passionate affair is everything Amy has ever dreamed of. What starts out as a breezy summer fling, however, becomes a struggle for happily ever after when the lovers are faced with the ultimate betrayal. They must learn to trust again in order for their love to survive, but is it too much to ask?

When Forever Ends (The Maxwell Series, Book 1) by Mariah Kingsley
Synopsis: Charles has loved Vivian with all of his heart for the past twenty years, but after overhearing a conversation between her and her girlfriends he learns that she doesn’t feel the same. Cassie and Mason have tried and failed at having a family, and the loss has begun to change the way the love that was once so solid. Cassie has the job opportunity that will take her away from her husband for a few months. Hoping that the time away will bring them closer together. Charles and Cassie become great friends and after a short time they begin to confide in each other about their greatest fears. Their failing marriages. With the commitment to help each other fix their dying marriages they begin to see all that they were missing in each other.

Masked Hearts (Book 1 in the Holiday Cafe Series) by Evelyn Aster
Synopsis: Mark is a rich single dad crazy about his son’s teacher. Sienna, recently ditched at the altar, refuses to date him but agrees to nights of breathless sex in his expansive house in the foothills. On a whim, she binds herself to the tie rack in his closet and realizes how much she trusts him with her body. But will she ever trust him with her heart?

Monday, 18 January 2016

With only fantasies of his sexy new neighbor to warm his bed at night, Reid knows he has to stay away from Alexis until his dangerous undercover assignment is over. But when a cold-blooded initiation to prove he’s trustworthy forces him to involve her, nothing can keep him from claiming her.

Excerpt - Alexis took several breaths to calm her nerves before slowly making her way to the door. She had no idea what she was going to find on the other side, or whom. Opening the door gradually, she peered into the large room beyond. Everything but for the pelting rain and an occasional clap of thunder seemed quiet. No radio or TV on that she could tell.

The room was bright. Something pulled her gaze toward a huge window. Judging by the scene outside, she must be somewhere in the mountains. Her next thought was she had to get out of there. She turned, coming up against a rock-solid body.

“Going somewhere?”

Alexis glanced up into Mike’s eyes, which were dancing with amusement. Anger, confusion and fear over her situation got the best of her. She started to back away from him. “Yes, home.”

He advanced on her. “I’m sorry but I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not? Aren’t you done with me? I don’t know what’s going on around here but—” Alexis bumped into the corner of a table and she skirted around it, not taking her eyes off Mike. “Why are you doing this?”

He advanced on her slowly. “Believe it or not, I’m keeping you alive.”

“Ha! By kidnapping me? By removing my clothes and…and—” Alexis couldn’t find the right words to describe their hot and heavy sex scene. She couldn’t cry rape when she’d welcomed and enjoyed every second of it. She averted her eyes when his gaze dropped down her body, bringing a wet response to her nether regions. “Just who are you?” she demanded.

“Mike Dunstin is my undercover name. I’m sorry you’ve been caught in the middle of this.”

She wanted to believe him but she didn’t. Not after his obvious involvement in her abduction. An idea for a chance to escape took shape and she wasn’t going to let it pass. In spite of her intense attraction to him, self-preservation was stronger. “Prove it.”

When he turned, Alexis didn’t waste any time making her move. She’d already noticed a door at the end of a short hallway, the glass window in the top half revealing that it led outside and to freedom. Realizing she needed to be quick, she sprinted to the door and pulled it open. She didn’t let the pouring rain stop her from running outside. And she was drenched within seconds. Her mistake was in halting to decide which way to go. There were no other houses around and the road, if you could call it that, was nothing but mud. They were surrounded by trees.

“Oh no you don’t.” She felt a hand in her hair and she was jerked back against Mike…Reid…whoever…and inside before she could let out a scream. He slammed the door and locked it, easily holding her.

Alexis began to struggle, frustration getting the best of her. “Damn you, Mike, let me go!”

“You little witch. I told you, my name’s Reid and I’m with the FBI.” His hands were everywhere in an effort to subdue her. “I’m trying to protect you!”

Alexis found herself pushed against the wall, and Mike-Reid followed her there with his body. He leaned into her and she was acutely aware of the powerful muscles in the thighs pinning hers, and the strength of his hard chest crushing her breasts. She moaned as a flashback of their earlier encounter surfaced.

*includes a bonus short story, On Fire, from the Serve and Submit Series *previously published

Sunday, 17 January 2016

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you have to be a newsletter subscriber
you have find and enter the monthly rafflecopter
winner is announced in my monthly newsletter
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The rafflecopter will be placed on my website somewhere, in a different location every month. Only newsletter subscribers are eligible.

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Outrageous: Like him? Like him? I love him. I
want him as my book boyfriend. He’s…can I say I’ve already claimed him and if
anyone else even thinks about him being their BB, I’ll get jealous and maybe
have to run round pulling my hair out.

Natalie: All righty, then… On a serious
note, I’m glad you love him. He’s a special character to me. Saves the maiden in
distress and all that. Loves her passionately. And she’s rather nice too. Their
love makes me warm inside—although it’s only in a book, it’s kind of proof that
true love does exist, don’t you think?

Outrageous: Oh yes. And the ending…oh my good
God, I cheered. And cried.

Natalie: Yay! Me too haha!

Outrageous: What I liked about the book was
there is love but also the nasty anti-hero. I loved hating him. Graham…what a
dick! One of those men in life who think they can have whatever they want,
regardless of what other people think. He really is an entitled arse. Did you
enjoy writing his bits, or did you cringe like I did when reading them?

Natalie: I, um, loved writing his parts. It’s
so satisfying writing about a pig because the aim is to get readers to think
like you did—that he’s an arse—and it looks like I succeeded in your case. When
I think of him stroking his chin…ugh, he turns my stomach. But he’s in the book
because I wanted to show all the arses out there that just because they think
they’re God’s gift, other people might not agree. And just because he wanted
Amelia and thought he could have her despite her being in love with Emmett, I
had to prove that he couldn’t have her no matter what. Even kidnapping her didn’t
work. Also, the theme with him is also that money can’t buy you love. Amelia
would rather be dirt poor and spend her time with Emmett than live in luxury
with Graham. Love is what matters, not possessions, a gorgeous castle, and
infinite money.

Outrageous: Got to agree with you there. And
poor Helena and John. Stuck there working for him and not being able to be
together because Graham uses Helena for sex. Such a nasty man.

Natalie: But things work out in the end,
although there’s a bit of a rough ride to get to the end. Did you like it that Graham
appeared in the present as well?

Outrageous: It’s a weird one, because I hated
it and liked it. When he reappeared, I wanted to scream. I think I actually
growled at my Kindle.

Natalie: LOL. I’m so happy haha.

Outrageous: I’m starting to get a bit worried
about you. Do you like tormenting readers or something?

Outrageous: You got me invested. Thanks for
the ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Natalie: You’re welcome.

Outrageous: Now, not wanting to sound rude,
but it’s time for you to get lost now. In the best possible way. Get lost and
write something else LOL.

Natalie: Charmed, I’m sure. Haha!

Blurb:

THIS BOOK WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE. IT HAS BEEN REVISED
FOR REPUBLICATION.

Drawn to the attic in her new home,
Amelia finds a saucy nineteenth-century wench dress. At first glance, it’s just
a dress, but once she puts it on, desire streaks through her and she’s transported
to the past. Overwhelmed by lust, she is caught pleasuring herself, discovered
by the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen, who turns out to be—her lover?

Amelia and Emmet join in an
explosive sexual union, erasing the months—or is it centuries?—they have been
apart as though they never existed. But suddenly Amelia awakes—alone.

Until the dress calls again.

Emmett’s not the only one lusting
after Amelia. Lord Graham wants her and he doesn’t fight fair. He kidnaps her,
sends Emmett on a deadly errand and forces Amelia to participate in his
voyeuristic games. Although Amelia’s body betrays her, she vows to remain true
to Emmett, but will he return? And can she escape the clutches of Lord Graham’s
debauchery? Amidst subterfuge, treachery and murder, Amelia and Emmet’s love
grows and they reach new heights of carnal passions.

Chapter One

Unpacked boxes and bulging refuse sacks filled Amelia’s new living
room. She stood in the aisle space the movers had left and tapped her foot. The
sound reverberated and she glanced at the restored oak flooring. An ugly gouge
marred one plank and her tapping grew in tempo. Amelia sighed, blowing
frustration out through pursed lips. The morning had been long and tiring and
she wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep.

“No chance of that,” she muttered, eyeing the boxes. Which one
should she empty first? Her black leather sofa looked all too inviting against
the back wall and she stifled the urge to flop down on it. “No. I’ve got to stick to my plan. Get everything
unpacked today. Tomorrow I can lounge about. No more putting things off. That’s
what got me here in the first place.”

Thoughts of James and his treatment of her intruded and she winced.

He’s long gone. Damn bastard
thought I’d roll over and take everything he gave. Didn’t expect Amelia Jacobs
to stand up for herself and kick his ass to the curb.

She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes.

No more thinking about him. This is
a new start. New place, new town, new everything. You can do this. You’re
strong. Thirty-one years old and you’re going to let that fucker win?

She huffed out a wry laugh then inhaled. The cottage smelled of
recently applied paint and new carpet. She remembered the day she’d decorated
this room, how her back had ached by the time she was done and a stripe of
cream paint gave the illusion of a gray streak in her long brunette hair. She
fingered the curls, reminding herself to tie it back before she attempted the
daunting task of unpacking, a job she didn’t relish one bit. She’d bought
everything new, throwing out all reminders of a past she couldn’t wait to
forget, and setting up a DVD player and tuning in a TV from scratch didn’t
appeal.

I’m not even sure I know how to do
it. She grimaced. Of course I can. I have to. How the hell did
I allow James to take over my life and my mind? How did he change from being a
loving, caring man into someone who thought nothing of using my lack of
self-esteem to keep me by his side? She shook her head. Stupid, that’s what I was. Stupid and too
trusting.

She turned to inspect the stairs behind her, pleased with her
choice of thick cream carpet. Shruggingshould look like—stick-thin, wan and
unrecognizable as the woman he’d first dated.

her insecurities away, she kicked off
her flat shoes and climbed the steps, her toes sinking into the fibers. The
mahogany banister rail smooth beneath her palm, she reached the top and veered
right. Three doors lined the short landing and another stood at the end—the
only door she hadn’t walked through on her first inspection of the cottage all
those weeks ago when she’d made up her mind to leave James. To leave behind the
old Amelia and spend time getting to know herself. To forget his taunts about
her wide hips and full thighs. To come to terms with loving her body and
accepting it as it was instead of trying to be what he’d said she

Why pick me then try to change me?

She clamped her jaw and shoved him out of her mind. No point in
entertaining the past. She had a new future ahead of her, a business to run
from the cottage, where she’d meet a variety of people who loved music as much
as she did. Already folks had called since she’d advertized her services and
booked slots for her to teach them piano. A new one would be arriving soon,
purchased from a lovely woman named Matilda who ran the music shop in town. The
redhead had been the only person here so far who had shown Amelia kindness.
They had hit it off right away, Matilda taking her for coffee when Amelia had
paid for the piano a few weeks before moving in. Since then, they had spoken
over the phone daily, their friendship growing.

Things will be all right. You can
do this.

She padded to the attic door and clasped the handle. It warmed
beneath her palm and her skin tingled, a faint buzz zipping up her arm. With a
gasp, she snatched her hand away and massaged her wrist.

What the hell was that?

Grasping the handle once more, she turned it. A surge of energy
infused her body and she flung the door wide and let go of the handle. Butterflies
danced in her belly and her heart rate quickened. Old, narrow wooden stairs
stretched upward, the white walls either side uneven with slight swells and
dips. She looked to the top. A swathe of sunlight cut across the opening,
catching the cobwebbed, sloping rafters and glancing off the back wall. Dust
motes swirled and the scent of years gone by wafted toward her. She placed her
foot on the first step and it creaked as though groaning from her weight. Her
pulse thrummed in her neck, the sound of it loud in her head. Curiosity
consumed her and all thoughts of unpacking and her turbulent past left her
mind.

Amelia climbed quickly, the need to get into the attic immense.
Breathless with an anticipation she hadn’t felt in a long time, she stood at
the top and gazed around. Two windows to her right admitted the sunshine, the
glass panes misty with dirt. The view of the bay and the spread of ocean would
be stunning from up here. A pile of swept-up dust sat in the far right corner,
the bare floorboards unvarnished but clean. The air encompassed her, almost as
though it was a palpable thing able to shroud her, blanket-like and warm. The
hairs on her arms rose and she rubbed them, a sense of well-being infusing her.

There’s something…right about this
room. It’s…it’s like I’ve come home.

She walked toward the window and pulled her shirt sleeve over her
hand ready to cuff a porthole in the dirt. Arm raised, she neared the glass,
but a twinkle in her peripheral vision caught her attention. She lowered her
arm and turned her head to the right. Peering into the darkened corner, breath
held, Amelia waited for the twinkle to reappear. Long seconds passed, her heart
thudding, and she released the air and shook her head. There it was again, a burst
of light, and she moved toward it. Darkness dwelled in the corner, thick and
solid, and she hunched over the closer she got, the ceiling lowering in a sharp
slope. She blinked, waiting for her eyes to become accustomed to the pitch—a
pitch at odds with the rest of the attic. Amelia glanced behind her. The other
half of the space remained lit by sunlight, yet here… She stared back to the
corner and, once there, kneeled. Hands clasped in her lap, she waited.

The darkness appeared to move, swirling around her, embracing her
with its ebon arms. Far from being frightened, Amelia felt at peace for the
first time in months. Her breathing evened out, and her heart stopped pumping
so harshly. A sense of being at one with herself, at ease in her own skin,
coursed through her, and she smiled in wonderment. All worries and insecurities
drifted away, leaving her with the sensation that she floated. She placed her
hands on the floor, certain she’d find nothing but air, yet the floorboards,
hard and real, met her fingertips.

Again, that sliver of light winked. Before it disappeared, she
reached forward to grasp it. Her hand came into contact with something hard. A cocktail
of awe and pleasant trepidation sped through her, coupled with a stab of lust.
She gasped, unaccustomed to the raw desire spiking inside her. The solidity
beneath her hand warmed and she ran her fingers along what felt like a wooden
edge. Exploring further, she smoothed across the surface. A large box?

Energized, she gripped the rear corners and pulled, shuffling
backward as the heavy box moved. A momentary thought of spiders scurrying from
their disturbed homes flickered through her mind, so she doubled her efforts
and drew the box out quickly. Standing, she patted the shape, finding a handle
on one side. She grasped it and heaved the weight into the sunlit part of the
attic. Sweat dripped down her temples and her stomach contracted, excitement
gripping her. She stared down at a large, polished wooden chest, the lid’s
surface inlaid with intricate carvings. The attic darkened a little and she
turned to look at the windows. White clouds scudded across the sun for a moment
before bright beams shone through the glass again. Amelia returned her
attention to the chest. A gold clasp kept the lid closed and she went down on
her knees, eager to inspect the contents.

With shaking fingers, she lifted the clasp, once again
entertaining thoughts of spiders. She swallowed, steeled herself for a fright
and raised the lid. It creaked, the noise so loud she winced. Black silk lined
the lid, the edges frayed and worn from many years of use. She gazed inside.
What appeared to be a dress lay in the bottom, its white bodice ruched like that
of an olden-day serving wench’s garment. The neckline, low and round, would
show off an ample cleavage and she automatically placed her hand to her chest.
Her heart thumped beneath her palm and her head lightened.

I need fresh air. It’s so cloying
up here.

Still she didn’t move. Instead, she reached into the chest to pick
up the dress. A shock of lust winged through her body and she reared backward
onto her ass, the material landing in a heap on her legs. Her cunt ached so
much it bordered on painful. Stunned, she stared at the dress, confused at her
state.

What the hell is going on here?

Amelia exhaled a shaky breath and staved off the desire to snake
her hand inside her jeans waistband and touch herself. She laughed, the tinkle
of it carefree. Tentatively, she ran her hands over the bodice of the dress.
Her nipples perked and lust sped through her veins, growing more urgent with
every thud of her pulse. She stood, kicking the dress away, and looked at it,
arms across her midsection.

I haven’t felt like this…ever.

Alien emotions assaulted her—the need for something she couldn’t
explain, the want of strong arms about her, the touch of soft skin on hers. She
lifted a hand to her mouth, exploring her lips with her fingertips. She dashed
her tongue out. A groan left her, one that exacerbated the insistent beat of
her clit. She shook her head and bent to pick up the garment. Holding it by the
shoulders, she shook it out, the burgundy velvet skirt swishing against her
legs. An unexplainable need to undress gripped her and, without questioning her
actions, she draped the dress over the box then yanked down her jeans. Her
fingers stumbled on her shirt buttons, but she had to undress, had to…

In her bra and thong, she scooped up the frock and slid her hands
inside the skirt, slipping it over her head. Arms stretched upward, she inhaled
the musky scent of dust, stale beer and a hint of lavender. Her hands found the
sleeves and she shimmied the garment down, poking her head through the neck.
Fuzziness covered her, spreading through her limbs and torso, making her giddy.
Her clit throbbed harder and her breasts tingled, nipples so taut pleasure-pain
radiated from them. She palmed her breasts through the fabric and her breath
caught as the onset of an orgasm swirled in her center. The need for air
immediate, she stumbled over to the window, disorientated by the fast arrival
of a desire so vast it rendered her faint.

She pinged the lock back and pushed the window up, the rush of
fresh air bringing instantaneous relief. Amelia glanced down at the sill and
frowned at four carved straight lines on the edge, surely not made for
decorative purposes. Another jolt of bliss ripped through her and she gave in,
drawing up the skirt and bunching it at her waist. She rubbed herself, her thong
giving her clit beautiful friction. She closed her eyes, unable to stop the
need to touch herself, and covered one breast with her free hand.

A gusty breeze sifted through the window and cooled her hot
cheeks. She rubbed faster, bliss growing. Someone called her name as though
from far away and she snapped her eyes open, stilling her movements. Stuttered
breaths gusted out and she listened to her pulse, her beating heart and the
sound of birds twittering in the trees and hedges bordering her front garden.

“Amelia…” There it was again, a male voice, her name spoken from a
distance, the tone pleading, heart-wrenching.

She stared through the window, embarrassment heating her face as
her gaze landed on a man standing on her garden path looking up at her. She
snatched her hand away from between her legs and let the skirt fall about her
legs. Covering her mouth with both hands, she gasped in shock, pivoting and pressing
her back firmly against the wall beside the window.

Who the hell is that?

Amelia worried her bottom lip with her teeth and lowered her
hands, smoothing out the dress as if doing so would erase what the man had
undoubtedly seen her doing. Should she wait for him to go or peek outside
again? Gathering her resolve, she stepped to the window, leaned her palms on
the sill and stuck her head out.

The man had stayed his position, legs clad in old-fashioned black
breeches, feet planted apart on the gravel path. A white shirt hung loose,
molded to his chest and bicep muscles, indicating he worked out. His thick
neck, tanned from the sun, boasted a prominent Adam’s apple, a smattering of
dark hair at its base. Her gaze rose to his face and she held her breath. Black
hair flopped over his forehead. Blue eyes either side of a slender nose
regarded her and a knowing grin tweaked one side of his mouth. Black eyebrows
arced in question. Heat infused her cheeks.

Damn! Of all the things I could
have been doing when I had my first visitor, it had to be that!

A memory filled her mind, one she hadn’t lived but somehow knew
intimately. Hot skin on skin, bodies tangled in sweat-soaked sheets. Breaths
hard and fast, her chest inflating, her fingers exploring every part of his
body. His hand in her hair, bringing her mouth to his, tongues entwined, the
wet heat of their kiss sending a wave of lust through her. She knew him yet she
didn’t. He belonged here yet he didn’t. She was afraid of him yet she wasn’t.

Amelia cleared her throat, shoving the images away. “Umm, can I
help you?”

He laughed, baring straight teeth. She wished the ground would
swallow her up or that he would go away, never to return, but…no, she didn’t
really want him to leave. While his rich bellow increased her embarrassment,
she eyed the windowsill. Those four carved lines, stark and proud, seemed to
mean something, their reason for being there nudging at the recesses of her
mind, yet her rationale butted in. How could she know what they meant? And why
should she care?

She glanced at the road that wound to the right and led the long
way into town. Asphalt had been replaced by a dirt track. What the hell? She stared at the man again.

His laughter stopped and, composed once more, he wiped his brow
with one sleeve. “My dear Amelia. You do make me happy. Of course you can help me. Why, you always do…”

What?

“Did you forget I was due back around this time?” He tilted his
head, teasing her senses into overdrive. “I can’t believe that for one minute.”

“Who are you?” Her mind grew fuzzy, her thought processes dull and
slow.

“Ah!” He placed his hands on broad hips and winked. “We’re playing
a game, are we? May I come in and join the fun?”

She shook her head to clear it, to think straight, but images flew
through her mind. Images of herself and this man in an embrace, hot tears on
her face as they clutched one another at the dockside, the stink of salty water
and his male scent all around her. Her heart rate picked up and she struggled
to make sense of what she saw. Surely her mind had conjured that scene—after
all, she wore an old dress, and he…he wore old clothing.

She found herself nodding.

His winning smile beamed up at her
and he said, “Maybe the slap of my hand upon your rump will bring back the
memory of who I am, my beautiful wench.”

He disappeared around the side of
her cottage and Amelia gasped, standing as though rooted, unable to process the
recent events quickly enough. Her heart hammered and she shut the window, resting
her hand on the latch, trying to figure out what to do next.

The
doors are locked. I locked them, didn’t I?

Her back door slammed and she
shrieked. Turning from the window, she glanced about the attic in search of a
weapon and saw nothing but the wooden chest. Amelia dashed toward it and looked
into its depths, praying it contained more than the dress. There was nothing.

Footsteps pounded, their thud too
far away to be the attic stairs.

“Oh, God.” Confused, she remembered
her new carpet, wondering why those footsteps sounded so hollow, as if his
boots thumped on bare wood. She closed her eyes to steel herself for his
appearance, listening to the footsteps coming closer, the creak of the first
step leading to the attic…

More images crowded her mind. Her
seated at the window, a sharp blade in hand, carving those lines in the sill. Another
day with him gone. Her staring out at the sea, squinting for sight of his ship
on the horizon. Sorrow and desolation when he failed to arrive, exaltation and
delirium when his ship broke the line of ocean and sky, the tiny speck of it
heralding his imminent arrival. Longing. Desire. Her body aching for his touch,
for his whispered words in her ear.

The footsteps stilled and, taking
in a huge breath, Amelia opened her eyes.